A DA's Office That Works
The District Attorney's job is executive and managerial: run a professional staff, make sound decisions, and give the public a clear view of how the office performs.
Works. Works fairly. Works in the open.
The office reviewed about 23,000 referrals in 2024 and filed charges on approximately 77 percent. High-volume public work requires clear standards, disciplined case management, and meaningful accountability—not guesswork.
Written Filing Standards
& Gun Violence
Consistent Screening:
Every prosecutor should know which cases get charged and why, so similar cases receive similar treatment regardless of assignment.
Reviewable Declinations:
Document the reason for each declination. The audit found approximately 48 percent of a randomly selected 50-case sample of felony declinations lacked detailed reasoning.
Case-by-Case Accountability:
Regularly review a sample of screening decisions to ensure filings and declinations align with office policies and practices.
Documented Decisions
Documented Plea Agreements:
Record plea terms, rationale, and supervisor approval where required. Auditors found that most reviewed two-step reductions lacked documentation of the rationale or supervisory review.
Manage Caseloads:
Use case processing, cycle-time, screening, and staffing data to manage workloads. Some prosecutors carried over 400 general felony cases at a time, according to the audit.
Decisions the Public Can Review:
Document enough information to allow supervisors, auditors, and the public to evaluate whether the office is operating consistently and effectively.
Public Metrics and a Dashboard
Measure What Matters:
The audit found no quantitative performance measures in use to evaluate office effectiveness. Kent will publish practical indicators of case processing, workloads, screening, and outcomes.
A Public Dashboard:
Report performance openly so taxpayers and stakeholders can see how the office is operating and where it needs to improve.
Accountability for Management:
Use a formal management framework to plan, implement, evaluate, and improve the office's work.
Accountable Alternatives to Incarceration
Clear Admission Criteria:
Focus admission on public safety and the actual drivers of criminal activity, including drug dependency and mental-health needs.
Track Participation and Outcomes:
Track participants and relevant outcomes—including subsequent charges—so the county can determine what is working.
Cooperate with Oversight:
Give auditors and oversight bodies the access and information required to evaluate the program and improve public safety.
Restoring Trust Delivering Justice
The work starts now. Join a campaign built on experience, not empty promises, for a safer Salt Lake County.